APC snubs Lai, Aregbesola, Keyamo, Yari, holds state chairmen inauguration

The All Progressives Congress, APC, will on Thursday hold the inauguration of its party chairmen across the states in the country without the factions loyalists to some ministers and senators on attendance.

Caracal Reports gathered that factions belonging to the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed in Kwara State, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola in Osun State, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo were edged out of the inauguration.

Others who lost out include former Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State, Senator Kabiru Marafa, and a former Governor of Zamfara State, Abdul’Aziz Yari’.

Findings from some of the states revealed that factions that are not loyal to the state governors were not recognized and invited for the inauguration that will take place at the party headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

APC had been divided into factions due to controversial congresses that were held last year in different states.

Some of the states witnessing crises include Osun, Ogun, Kwara, Kebbi, Kano, Delta, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bauchi and Zamfara.

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Despite the plight of some members of the party at the states level, the national leadership of the party is set to inaugurate chairmen who are believed loyal to the state governors.

Our correspondent learnt that no fewer than 31 states have arrived in Abuja for the inauguration at the party headquarters that is already guarded with a heavy presence of security operatives to prevent any crisis.

Some of the part chieftains confirmed the situation of the development.

The leader of Kwara State governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq’s faction, Prince Sunday Fagbemi, when contacted, confirmed his invitation for the inauguration.

He said “I’m already in Abuja for the swearing-in of the APC chairmen that will hold on Thursday”

Meanwhile, the faction loyal to Lai Mohammed said that it was not aware of the inauguration.

Chief Sunday Oyebiyi, the Deputy Chairman elected by the faction at the APC Congress said, “We don’t know whether anything is being done by the national caretaker committee of APC in Abuja. We were not informed and we were not invited.”

Likewise in Ogun State, Amosun’s faction was edged out with an invitation extended to a faction loyal to governor Abiodun.

In Zamfara State where three factions are currently operating, The PUNCH learnt that the APC would inaugurate the faction loyal to Governor Bello Matawalle.

In Delta it was gathered that the faction loyal to the Deputy Senate President Ovie Omo-Agege would be inaugurated while that of Festus Keyamo has been ignored.

In Kano, there was confusion as it was learnt on good authority that the national secretariat was insisting on recognizing and inaugurating members of the APC loyal to Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

When contacted to confirm whether the national secretariat invited the Senator Ibrahim Shekarau-led faction to Abuja for the inauguration, the Chairman,  Alhaji Haruna Danzago, said although he was in Abuja but could not give an update on the ongoing reconciliation process or inauguration.

However, Caracal Reports is keenly monitoring the event and will give updates on the situation as they unfold.